Yeast in fur and what to do about it – should you be afraid or not?

01. April 2025
Kvasinky v kožichu a jak na ně – bát se, či nebát?

Is your dog scratching and you really don't know why? It might be an allergy, but ultimately the problem lies elsewhere – yeast.

Where yeast is found

It starts with reddish-brown spots in the fur, usually on the paws. The first signs of overgrowth can also be head shaking and ear scratching, or inflammation. Licking around the tail. These are signals that yeast is multiplying more than is healthy. This happens when the immune system is weakened for some reason.

For example, in allergy sufferers with the arrival of spring. Or after an illness. Or when encountering bacteria after swimming in nature. With the arrival of warm weather and the dog swimming in every puddle (because stopping them is not easy). Immunity weakens and yeast, which lives in the digestive tract and ears, begins to multiply. And itch.

They have their own smell

Yeast likes moisture and warmth. They thrive in thick fur after getting wet, which takes a long time to dry. You can even recognize fur with overgrown yeast up close by sniffing it – it has a sweet and sour smell. Most often, yeast also likes the spaces between the paw pads, which the dog likes to lick, thus promoting their multiplication. The skin soon becomes red all over the body, with brown spots, flakes, and scabs from constant scratching and biting.

Don't wait, head to the vet